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imagine this. ten 2-3year olds sitting on a round rug during morning meeting. we sing songs and share news. one teacher pulls out a song book and points out that each student from the previous year had their picture taken along with having their favorite song lyrics listed.

teacher, "see, this is ken. his favorite song was the wheel's on the bus."

charlie, "is my picture there?"
teacher,"no, we will… Continue

a friend is someone who has something other acquaintances don't. a true friend's heart has ears. his heart can hear and listen for your joy and your sorrow.

two little girls have been friends since toddler hood. one strong willed, creative and very protective of her friend. the other was shy, quietly observant and treasured the protection from her friend. as time passed the more self reflective of the two came into her own. she blossomed in ways that amazed even herself and soon she found that… Continue

hi parents,
yes, we teachers think about all of you when we are finishing our vacations and starting to think about the upcoming year. here are some of the things that run through our minds:

1. Will I learn all of the parent's names quickly.
2. I hope the classroom is perfect for the first day and the parents like it as much as the children.
3. I hope I make a good first impression.
4. Please let me have a solid room representative.
5. I hope they are not nervous about meeting me.
6. I hope the… Continue

so i watch him swing effortlessly across the monkey bars. "i'm pretty good at this," he smiles at me for confirmation. i forget to smile. i just stare and wonder how it is that my old a** can't get across those six little bars without feeling a burn in my hands, the weight of my gut and the sound of my lungs almost exploding. i do the usual and console myself ...being a little over weight isn't too bad, as long as i can chase and catch a five year old is still a good sign. then again i have neve… Continue

potty training: no thanks, i'm okay
and so it happened one day that i asked one of my students if he needed to use the bathroom. "no, thanks," he said and continued to play. now i knew i wasn't crazy but he had been greatly unsuccessful in the past and his declining my request and me standing there speechless should have been a sign. well, i was too tired to think hard and figured i would ask again in ten minutes. a ten minute extension to a young four year old is huge, either his bladder… Continue